Mr. Wallace Smith Pruitt, 84, was called to his heavenly home and reunited with his beloved wife, Shirley June Pruitt, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Born June 27, 1940, Wallace was one of eight children lovingly raised by the late Homer G. Pruitt and the late Blanche Wallace Pruitt.
As a native of Tangier Island, there were few places Wallace would rather be than on the water, unless, of course, he was at Shirley’s side. He spent many years crabbing aboard the Shirley-June and was always eager to share his expertise with younger generations. A few years after he and Shirley were married, they moved to Onancock, where Wallace began working for Sun Oil Company (now Sunoco).
After several years on the mainland, they returned home to Tangier, where they owned and operated Shirley’s Bay View Inn B&B for nearly a decade. Following retirement, the Pruitts relocated once more, settling in Salisbury, Md., where they remained until Shirley’s passing in December 2017. Wallace was a member of Swain Memorial United Methodist Church on Tangier, as well as Faith Baptist Church in Salisbury.
Wallace is survived by three sisters and a brother, Barbara Thomas, of Crisfield, Md., Sherry Smith, and Sharon Scott and her husband, Newman, and Glenwood Pruitt and his wife, Walta, all of Onancock; as well as several nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to his wife and parents, Wallace was predeceased by a sister and two brothers, Elizabeth “Babe Ruth” Doran, Lorie Quinn Pruitt and his wife, Carol, and Freddie Klein Pruitt and his wife, Betty; brothers-in-law, Rudy Thomas and Edward Smith; nephew, Wesley Smith; and niece, Rose Ellen Keeley.
Funeral services were conducted from the graveside at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery on Friday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Charles W. Parks III officiating.
The family of Wallace Pruitt would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Alice B. Tawes Nursing and Rehab in Crisfield for the compassionate care provided to Wallace.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Wallace’s memory may be made to Swain Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 199, Tangier, VA 23440 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements were made by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
